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Notes: Ichiro still looking out for No. 1

Notes: Ichiro still hitless

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By Mark Thoma
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Special to MLB.com |

PHOENIX -- The Mariners had a hard time getting on base against the Brewers on Sunday and an even harder time staying there.

The Mariners were held hitless until the seventh in a split-squad game against Milwaukee. Jose Vidro singled leading off the seventh and Adrian Beltre singled leading off the eighth, but both were erased by double plays.

Only Willie Bloomquist, who walked in the third and was stranded, kept the Brewers from facing the minimum of 27 batters in a game that took only two hours and five minutes.

While a spring shutout isn't a big deal, Ichiro Suzuki's hitless streak is at least a curiosity. The single-season hits record-holder was hitless in three at-bats Sunday and is 0-for-17 this spring.

Bench coach Jim Riggleman, acting as manager while John McLaren helmed the other split-squad in Tucson, pointed out that an 0-for-17 streak in the middle of the season wouldn't attract much attention, but that doing so at the start of the season makes the streak easier to spot and more compelling to follow.

"I managed a team that was 0-14 one year to start the season," Riggleman said, referring to the 1997 Cubs. "When you open up that way, it gets a lot of attention."

While the Mariners did little at the plate, they didn't allow much on the mound, holding the Brewers at bay in eight of nine innings. Lefty Jake Woods was sharp, striking out four in two perfect innings.

Split-squad story lines: While Seattle struggled offensively in Phoenix, it had plenty of game in Tucson, as the Mariners cranked out 14 hits in a 10-7 win over the Diamondbacks.

Starter Horacio Ramirez allowed two hits, four walks and three earned runs in three innings, striking out three. But things went swimmingly for the Seattle swingers, as Jeremy Reed doubled in the third and hit a two-run single in the fourth, while Mike Morse clubbed a two-run homer in the second.

Unlikely sources: The Mariners have seven official home runs this year, even though the team's power hitters have yet to take a single round trip.

Wladimir Balentien and Morse each have two homers, while Yuniesky Betancourt, Yung Chi Chen and Greg Norton have one each.

Of those players, only two (Balentien and Betancourt) hit a home run for Seattle last year.

High praise: Riggleman singled out first-base coach Eddie Rodriguez for his impact on the club this spring by laying out the team's schedules.

"I tell anyone who'll listen, Eddie Rodriguez has put together an outstanding camp," Riggleman said. "... That really sets the tone, everything is so organized. ... And the players respect the schedule."

Getting started: Minor League Spring Training is now under way at Maryvale Baseball Park. The Minor League camp's first full workout was Saturday, although rookie-level players won't report for another two weeks. Minor League games begin on Friday.

Up next: Left-hander Erik Bedard starts for Seattle on Monday in Tucson against White Sox southpaw Mark Buehrle. R.A. Dickey, Ryan Feierabend, Sean Green and Brandon Morrow are also scheduled to pitch for the Mariners in the 1:05 p.m. PT game.

Mark Thoma is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.